Pam Silberman, JD, DrPH, immediate past president of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine and clinical professor of health policy and management at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, has been awarded the North Carolina Hospital Association’s 2014 Meritorious Service Award. The award is given each year to recognize outstanding service to the health-care field.

Silberman accepted the award July 17 at the NCHA’s summer membership meeting.

“NCHA is proud to honor Dr. Silberman for her leadership, analysis and instruction on complex health issues,” said William A. Pully, president of NCHA. “She has been a vital force in health-care policy development in North Carolina, and we have all benefited from her work.”

Since joining the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) in 1999, Silberman has spearheaded the research and analysis of nearly every state policy related to health care.

Under her leadership, the NCIOM has sponsored task forces to examine preventive dental care, evidence-based strategies to improve population health, suicide prevention, behavioral health needs of active and returning members of the military and their families, and a statewide preventive action plan, to name only a few.

Silberman’s ability to build consensus behind issues without espousing a political agenda has won her and the NCIOM the respect of health-care providers, state leaders and lawmakers. She has worked closely with state government in developing policies that have influenced and ensured health-care delivery for the state’s most vulnerable populations, including the framework for the state’s child health insurance program, N.C. Health Choice. She is recognized widely as a foremost authority on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and has helped educate stakeholders and citizens across the state.

The N.C. Hospital Association is a trade organization representing more than 130 hospitals that provide acute-care, rehabilitative, behavioral, psychiatric and veterans’ services. The association promotes improved delivery of quality and affordable health care in North Carolina through leadership, advocacy, information and education in its members’ interest and for public benefit.